Chapter 3 of 14

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CBSE Class 4 Mathematics★ 4-5 marks through school tests, activities, notebook work, and competency questions in CBSE Class 4 Mathematics (Maths Mela)

Pattern Around Us

A CBSE Class 4 Mathematics (Maths Mela) chapter on patterns — in shapes, colours, and numbers. Children find the rule of a pattern, extend and create patterns, sort even and odd numbers, and explore tiling (tessellation). These notes give core ideas, worked examples, an activity, common mistakes, a practice set with answers, and quick revision.

⏱ 15 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Find the rule of a shape, colour, or number pattern
2Extend and create patterns
3Sort even and odd numbers by the last digit
4Understand tiling (tessellation) as shapes fitting with no gaps
5Use patterns to predict the next term

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Why this chapter matters

Pattern Around Us builds the skill of finding rules and predicting what comes next. Children extend and create patterns in shapes, colours, and numbers, sort even and odd numbers, and explore tiling - foundations for algebra and number sense.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Play with Patterns (Class 3)

Recognising simple repeating patterns from earlier classes.

Pattern Around Us — Class 4 Mathematics (CBSE)

From the current NCERT Maths Mela Grade 4 book, Chapter 3. Patterns are all around us — in tiles, designs, and numbers. Let us learn to spot and make them.

1. Why this chapter matters

A pattern repeats by a rule. Spotting patterns helps us predict what comes next, do mental maths faster, and create beautiful designs. Patterns also show up in even and odd numbers and in the way tiles fit together.

2. Core ideas

Idea 1 — A pattern follows a rule

A pattern can be in shapes, colours, or numbers, and it repeats by a rule (for example, ▲●▲●▲●).

Method 2 — Find the rule, then extend

First find how the pattern grows or repeats, then continue it. In 2, 4, 6, 8, … the rule is "add 2", so next is 10.

Skill 3 — Even and odd numbers, and tiling

Even numbers end in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8; odd numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. Tiling (tessellation) is when shapes fit together with no gaps.

3. Worked examples

Example 1: Continue the pattern: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___.

The rule is "add 5", so the next number is 25.

Example 2: Continue: ▲●●▲●●▲●● …

The unit "▲●●" repeats, so next is ▲ ● ●.

Example 3: Sort into even and odd: 7, 12, 15, 20.

Even: 12, 20 (end in 2 and 0). Odd: 7, 15 (end in 7 and 5).

4. Activity corner

Make your own pattern with two colours of beads or two shapes. Then write a number pattern with the rule "add 3". Write:

Your shape/colour pattern and its rule
Your number pattern and its rule
The maths idea (a pattern follows a rule)

5. Common mistakes

Mistake: Continuing a pattern without finding the rule. Fix: First work out the rule, then extend.
Mistake: Calling a number even just because it is big. Fix: A number is even only if it ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.
Mistake: Leaving gaps when tiling. Fix: In tiling, shapes fit together with no gaps or overlaps.

6. How to write better answers

Look for the rule (what repeats or how it grows).
Write the rule in words ("add 5", "▲●● repeats").
Extend the pattern using the rule.
For even/odd, check the last digit.

7. Practice set

Continue the pattern: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___.
What is the rule of the pattern 2, 4, 6, 8?
Continue: ■ ▲ ■ ▲ ___.
Sort into even and odd: 9, 14, 21, 30.
What is tiling (tessellation)?

8. Answer key

15 (rule: add 3).
The rule is "add 2".
■ (the unit ■ ▲ repeats).
Even: 14, 30; Odd: 9, 21.
Tiling is fitting shapes together with no gaps or overlaps.

9. Quick revision

A pattern repeats by a rule (shapes, colours, or numbers).
Find the rule first, then extend the pattern.
Even numbers end in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8; odd numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.
Tiling (tessellation) fits shapes with no gaps.
Patterns help us predict what comes next.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Core idea

A pattern repeats by a rule, in shapes, colours, or numbers.

Example: 2, 4, 6, 8 grows by adding 2.

Math move

Find the rule first, then extend the pattern.

Write the rule in words before continuing.

Exam habit

Even numbers end in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8; odd numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. Tiling fits shapes with no gaps.

Check the last digit for even or odd.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Continuing a pattern without finding the rule

✓ First work out the rule, then extend.

WATCH OUT

✗ Calling a number even just because it is big

✓ A number is even only if it ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.

WATCH OUT

✗ Leaving gaps when tiling

✓ In tiling, shapes fit together with no gaps or overlaps.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Read, observe, and discuss

Spot patterns in tiles, borders, and number grids from the textbook before writing answers.

Questions

Notebook practice

Extending patterns, writing rules, sorting even and odd, and drawing tilings.

Questions

Project or activity

Create a shape pattern and a number pattern, each with a clear rule.

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Pattern

Continue the pattern: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___.

▶ Show solution

15 (rule: add 3).

Q2EASY· Rule

What is the rule of the pattern 2, 4, 6, 8?

▶ Show solution

The rule is 'add 2'.

Q3EASY· Pattern

Continue: square, triangle, square, triangle, ___.

▶ Show solution

square (the unit square-triangle repeats).

Q4MEDIUM· Even/Odd

Sort into even and odd: 9, 14, 21, 30.

▶ Show solution

Even: 14, 30; Odd: 9, 21.

Q5MEDIUM· Concept

What is tiling (tessellation)?

▶ Show solution

Tiling is fitting shapes together with no gaps or overlaps.

Q6HARD· Create

Write a number pattern using the rule 'add 4', starting at 2.

▶ Show solution

2, 6, 10, 14, 18 (each number is 4 more than the one before).

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Pattern Around Us is Chapter 3 of the Class 4 Maths Mela textbook.
•A pattern repeats by a rule (shapes, colours, or numbers).
•Find the rule first, then extend the pattern.
•Even numbers end in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8; odd numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.
•Tiling (tessellation) fits shapes with no gaps.
•Patterns help us predict what comes next.

CBSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 4-5 marks in school tests, oral checks, notebooks, and activities

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
Very Short	1	2-3	Extending patterns or stating a rule
Short Answer	2	1-2	Even/odd sorting or tiling
Activity / Project	3	0-1	Creating patterns with rules

Prep strategy

Find the rule before extending any pattern
Practise even and odd by the last digit
Make your own shape and number patterns
Draw a simple tiling with no gaps

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Designs and art

Patterns and tiling are used in rangoli, tiles, and decorations.

Predicting and planning

Finding rules helps predict what comes next in numbers and events.

Mental maths

Number patterns make counting and calculation faster.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

Underline the command word: continue, rule, sort, or create
Write the rule in words before extending
Check the last digit for even or odd
Show no gaps when drawing a tiling

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Find a growing pattern where the rule is 'add 1, then add 2, then add 3'.
Find two shapes that tile a floor with no gaps.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

CBSE Class 4 School AssessmentHigh

Class 4 Foundation / Olympiad PracticeMedium

Notebook and Activity EvaluationHigh

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

First find the rule - how the pattern repeats or grows - then use that rule to add the next terms.

Look at the last digit. If it is 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 the number is even; if it is 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 it is odd.

Practice more, ask doubts, find a tutor

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